• Jill Biden feared her husband was having a stroke during the 2024 debate against Donald Trump.
• She described his performance as alarming, claiming she had never seen him that way before or since.
• Following the debate, internal pressure led Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
• Post-debate, Jill Biden publicly praised her husband's performance despite her private concerns.
• This incident significantly affected perceptions of Biden's fitness for re-election.

In a recent interview, Jill Biden revealed her deep concerns about then-President Joe Biden during the June 2024 presidential debate. "I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never," she explained, noting that she feared he might be having a stroke based on his shaky performance on stage. Biden's faltering delivery against Donald Trump raised serious questions about his ability to lead, ultimately contributing to his withdrawal from the race, according to BBC.

The debate highlighted Biden's struggles at age 81, which intensified scrutiny from both the public and members of his own party. Jill Biden noted that although she was alarmed, she had publicly praised her husband right after the debate, telling supporters he had done a great job, as reported by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Amid her concerns, Biden attempted to clarify the situation, attributing his poor performance to a cold he had suffered prior to the debate. Nonetheless, his stumbling speeches and lapses in thought led to increased doubts over his fitness for office, according to CBS News. The media coverage that followed underscored a growing unease among Democrats regarding his potential reelection.

Ultimately, Joe Biden announced his decision to step down from the presidential race on July 21, 2024, resulting in Vice President Kamala Harris being nominated. This decision came after months of intense discussion and diagnosis related to Biden's health, concerning both his mental and physical capabilities as highlighted by Al Jazeera and CBS News.